Chandigarh, Oct 3: The skies of the tricity glowed on Thursday evening as Ravana and his kin went up in flames, marking Dussehra — the festival symbolising the victory of good over evil. From Panchkula’s towering effigies to Chandigarh’s packed grounds and Mohali’s blend of tradition with a social message, the celebrations unfolded with scale and fervour, drawing tens of thousands of residents.
In Panchkula, the biggest spectacle played out at Shalimar Ground where Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini lit a 180-foot Ravana. Though organisers claimed to have packed the effigy with nearly 5,000 firecrackers, it failed to burn completely, leaving behind the demon king’s face and hands amid plumes of black smoke and the stench of half-burnt firecrackers. Still, the ground pulsated with the energy of over 50,000 spectators, including 500 VIPs, who watched the symbolic burning. The chief minister also announced a contribution of ₹11 lakh to Mata Mansa Devi Charitable Trust. Security was tight, though the evening saw some disruption: a 13-year-old boy was caught for snatching ornaments, and a lost 10-year-old was quickly reunited with his mother. Despite heavy footfall, traffic around the venue stayed under control.
Chandigarh hosted its main Dussehra show at Sector 46, where effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhkaran, standing 100, 75 and 70 feet tall, were set ablaze before a cheering crowd of around 50,000. UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria and Deputy Commissioner Nishant Yadav attended the Ramdarbar Vishwakarma Dramatic Club event before presiding over the Sector 46 celebrations. Sector 17, Sector 34, Sector 28, Manimajra and Ramdarbar also staged effigy burnings, while Sector 22, Sector 32, Sector 27 and Sector 15 drew families with smaller shows.
The day was not without controversy: in Sector 30, Ravana’s effigy had been burnt prematurely on Wednesday night. Organisers scrambled to arrange a replacement but could only manage Ravana’s face. “We tried our best at the last moment but could only procure the face,” said Ashwani Bal, general secretary of the dramatic club.
Across the city, political leaders lent their presence to the festivities. Member of Parliament Satnam Singh Sandhu was chief guest at Dussehra functions in Sector 38, Daddumajra, Sector 44 and the Sector 49 vegetable market ground. Addressing the crowds, Sandhu noted, “The construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has created a new excitement among Ram devotees. It has also inspired the younger generation to remain strong and connected to their roots and cultural values.”
Mohali too embraced the occasion at 14 venues. The main gathering at Sector 79 stood out not just for its 100-foot Ravana, 75-foot Meghnad and 65-foot Kumbhkaran, but also for a 50-foot effigy symbolising corruption and drug abuse. Local MLA Kulwant Singh lit the effigies, accompanied by SSP Harmandeep Singh Hans and DSP Harsimran Singh Bal. The burning of a striking replica of Ravana’s Lanka added to the spectacle. Floats brought from Delhi and Rajasthan, along with cultural performances and a colourful religious procession starting from Sector 80 temple, lent the event a carnival-like feel. Mock battles between Ravana and Hanuman’s armies drew loud cheers from thousands of spectators.
What Dussehra means
While crowds flock each year to see the fiery destruction of towering effigies, Dussehra — also known as Vijayadashami — holds a deeper cultural meaning. Rooted in the ancient epic Ramayana, it commemorates Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, after an epic battle symbolising the triumph of truth and virtue over arrogance and evil. In many parts of India, the festival also marks the end of the nine-day Navratri and is celebrated with Ramlila performances, fireworks, and processions.
For the tricity, the festival is as much about community as it is about tradition. Families turn out in large numbers to witness the burning effigies, children wave toy bows and arrows in imitation of Rama, and organisers weave in contemporary themes — as seen in Mohali’s effigy of corruption and drugs — to blend timeless mythology with present-day concerns.
As the flames consumed the symbolic figures across Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali, the celebrations reaffirmed a narrative that has endured for centuries: that light will prevail over darkness, and good will triumph over evil.
